Combination table

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns a combination table ( 1 ) arranged for use as a baby changing table or a desk or a partition, comprising either two vertical side members ( 2 ) and one horizontal table top ( 5 ) and at least one horizontal shelf ( 7 ); or two vertical side members ( 2 ) and one horizontal table top ( 5 ) and one horizontal cross-beam ( 10 ) and alternatively one or more shelves ( 7 ) mounted between the side members ( 2 ); or at least two vertical side members ( 2 ) mounted together by its vertical edges.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention concerns a combination table withpossibilities of variation and which may be re-assembled in order toadapt to several uses.

PRIOR ART

[0002] From prior art, several baby changing tables in different formsare known, of which some may be collapsed in different ways. Theadvantage of collapsible baby changing tables is that they occupy littlespace when the table is not in use, especially if the available spacewhere it is to be used is limited, for example in a bathroom, or whenthe table is to be kept or stored elsewhere.

[0003] Further, baby changing tables with integrated drawers, is whereinthe upper part of the table contains the baby changing table top, whichis often padded, and alternatively a bath tub is known. The nursingplate and the bath tub may be removed when the child is too old for thebaby changing table, and an extra drawer and a top plate may be mountedso that the table becomes a chest of drawers which may be used in thechildren's room.

[0004] One problem with the earlier baby changing tables is that theflexibility with reference to the user has not always been in focus.Most of the functions have been directed towards saving space, andpartly for extended use after the child has grown from the baby changingtable. An extended use of a product, which the child only uses in ashort period, such as in a period of 2 years for example, is importantfinancially and in relation to space for parents of small children, whomust often acquire a large number of products when they have a child. Inthis respect, a chest of drawers as mentioned above, is often not theprimary need when the child no longer needs the baby changing table, asthe child often already has a chest of drawers, a cupboard or awardrobe. To use the drawers section of the baby changing table forclothes while it is used as a baby changing table, often in a bathroom,is often out of the question as the drawers are used for nappies andcare products, or because of humidity in the room.

[0005] From FR 910026 a playpen is known, consisting of side pieces withhorizontal bars wherein the side pieces may be used to transform thefurniture into a table in different variations, a baby high chair and abed, etc. The disadvantage with this solution is that all the furnituresrequires the use of at least 3 side pieces which reduces the area of usefor example in that only one side of the table may be used for sittingagainst. The weight is relatively high and as the side pieces are usedas a playpen fence, the height of the side pieces is reduced.Consequently the baby changing table will have a height too low for aproper ergonomic working position. Further, the furniture constructedwith the side pieces in FR 910026 have horizontal bars on which thechild may climb, which will hinder an approval for use as furniture forchildren in many countries.

[0006] Today, most parents are very conscious of good ergonomics infurniture both at work and at home. To change a baby may be a demandingtask where the person changing the child stands, lifts and turns thebaby, and bends to find nappies, flannels, towels, paper, and clothesetc. for the baby. This is a routine which is repeated many times dailyand may strain the body unfavourably by unfit working posture. There istherefore a need for baby changing tables which may be adapted both tothe users working posture and the child's development, and which aresteady and robust.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The object of the invention is to supply a combination tablewhich solves the above mentioned problems and rectifies the shortcomingsof the prior solutions. Further, the object is to provide a combinationtable with simple construction, which has both possibilities ofvariation and several practical uses.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The object is attained by a combination table which has aheight-adjustable table top, height adjustable shelves, and adjustableholders for care products and washing articles, for use as a babychanging table, and which may be reassembled for use as a desk forchildren or a partition, as defined in the claims enclosed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0009]FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a combination table accordingto the invention with nursing plate and shelves.

[0010]FIG. 2 depicts the combination table in FIG. 1 in anotherconfiguration with holders for articles and towels.

[0011]FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the combination table in FIG.1 assembled as a desk.

[0012]FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of the combination table in FIG.1 assembled as a partition.

[0013]FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of the combination table as analternative desk.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0014] A Baby Changing Table

[0015] The combination table 1 according to the invention is made up ofto side members 2, symmetrically about a vertical longitudinal centreplane, which constitute the supporting sides of the table as shown inFIG. 1. The side members 2 are slightly arched in this embodiment, butmay alternatively have another form or be planar. A side member 2 isconstructed as a rectangular frame for example with bars 3 in thevertical direction to cover the side areas. The side members can be madeof any suitable material such as wood, metal, plastic of combinationsthereof. In the two lower corners of the side members 2, there may bemounted swivelling and lockable wheels 4 or legs. The table top 5 isheight adjustably mounted to adapt to the users (the person who performsthe baby changing) own height. The table top may be made of wood,plastic of any suitable material which may easily be cleaned andcontains. alternatively crossbeams 6 depending on the stiffness andstrength of the table top 5 itself. The crossbeams 6 may be attaches tothe side members' edges by regular through-holes 9 with bolts or similarfastening means. In use as a baby changing table, the table top 5 mayalternatively be padded or preferably have a removable padded changingmat mounted (not shown).

[0016] The shelves 7 are like the table top 5, mounted horizontallybetween the side members and are height adjustable, in order to adapt tothe preferred working posture. The shelves 7 may be attached to the sidemembers edges by angle armatures 8. FIG. 2 depicts such an alternativeconfiguration of the baby-changing plate 5 and the shelves 7. The designof the shelves may vary, but they are preferably stiff in order tomaintain their form during load and in order to reinforce the table. Thelongitudinal edges should be adapted in shape with the shape of the sidemembers 2 for the same reason, such as a concave curvature in theembodiment depicted in the Figures. The transverse edges of the tabletop 5 and the shelves 7 may have other forms, such as convex in thisembodiment. The number of shelves may be varied. The shelves 7 are solidin this embodiment, but may alternatively be made of a mesh material.The shelf or basket has then not necessarily any stiffening effect onthe table and should then be mounted together with a crossbeam 12, forexample centrally between the lower ends of the side members 2 (seebelow) or an extra shelf. A shelf of a material which is not solid maybe useful for example in order to store bathing toys which need to dry,or to dry clothes which should be dried flat.

[0017] Article holders 10 and 11 may be mounted on the side members 2,and may be made in plastic with fastening means which are snapped ontothe bars 3, or by fastening them by the same holes 9 in the side members2 as the shelves and the table plate. The article holders 10 and 11 maybe adjusted to the preferable height according to suitable workingposture. The article holders may for example be formed as a bowl 10 forlotions, powder, cleaning wipes, thermometer, wash basin, basket fordirty clothes etc., or a towel holder 11 for drying towels, clothesetc., or as other practical holders which the user may have use for suchas waste basket, paper holder or dispensers of different kinds (notshown).

[0018] A Desk

[0019] When the child no longer needs the baby changing table 1, thetable may in another embodiment be re-assembled to a writing or workingdesk 13 by replacing the lower shelf 7 with a crossbeam 12 andalternatively removing other shelves 7 in order to give room for theusers legs and for a chair as shown in FIG. 3. The table top may also inthis embodiment be adjusted in height to adapt to the child as it growsand should preferably be used together with a height adjustable chairsuch as a Tripp-Trapp® chair (dotted in FIG. 3). In this way, theworking position of the child may be optimised while growing up.

[0020] Alternatively a suitable shelf 7 may be used as table plate, or ashelf 7 may be mounted right under table top 5 in order to give astorage room for example for writing/drawing articles.

[0021] An alternative desk 17 is shown in FIG. 5 wherein a somewhatlonger table top 18 with convex edges which fit into the side members 2on the opposite side of what is shown in the other figures. Theadvantage here is that the table space is larger. A somewhat longercrossbeam 19 is mounted between the rear lower corners of the sidemembers 2 to give extra space for the users legs.

[0022] Alternatively the table may be used as a PC-table adapted toeither children or adults, or the table top 5 may be mounted relativelylow, together with a shelf 7 or a crossbeam 12 to achieve a play table(not shown). In the table embodiments above, the article holders 8 maylikewise be attached at the desired height to hold articles such aswriting articles, toys, disks, CD's etc.

[0023] Height adjustment of the table top 5 or the shelves 7 may beachieved by conventional systems such as rows of holes 9 in the edges ofthe side members 2, for through bolts which either directly are fastenedto the table top 5, shelves 7 or crossbeams 6 or 12, or via an armature8 as shown in the figures. It is important that the fastening andregulating system may only be operated by an adult, so that a child maynot cause the table to collapse.

[0024] A Partition

[0025] In a third embodiment, the side members 2 of the table 1 may bemounted together in one of their vertical ends with an armature 14, forexample a planar armature, to form a screen or partition 15 as shown inFIG. 4. In order to maintain stability and avoid tipping over,supportive legs or bows 16 may be mounted in the lower corners of theside member 2 instead of wheels 4. The side members 2 may in thisembodiment be mounted such that they together either make up a segmentof a cylinder as in FIG. 4, or an S-form, depending on the use.Alternatively the armature 14 may contain an angle, or an angle iron 8may be used to mount the side members together so achieve otherembodiments of the partition. Alternatively, a table top 5 or a shelf 7,for example with a covering or mesh design, may be mounted between theside members 2 edgewise, with the above mentioned armatures to make thepartition longer and/or to obtain more angles (not shown). The partitionmay thereby have many different forms depending on the assembly. Thepartition 15 may be used as a partition for example if two childrenshare a room, or divide a room into a sleeping and play/working section.Further, the partition may be used for play such as a puppet theatre, ahouse, or to cordon off areas to the child. The article holders 11 and12, as mentioned earlier, may be mounted onto the partition 14 on thesides of the side members, and in desired height. If desired, the sidemembers 2 may be covered with a dense or semi-dense material, such asfabric or a mesh, which may be stretched over the outer curvature of thewall, or in zigzag between the bars 3, if the partition 15 is to be usedto divide a room for example.

1. Combination table (1) arranged for use as a baby changing table or adesk or a partition, characterised in that it comprises either: (a) twovertical side members (2) and a horizontal table top (5) and at leastone horizontal shelf (7); (b) or two vertical side members (2) and onehorizontal table top (5) and at least one horizontal crossbeam (10) andalternatively one or more shelves (7) mounted between the side members(2); (c) or at least two vertical side members (2) mounted together byits vertical edges.
 2. Combination table (1) according to claim 1,characterised in that the side members (2) each consist of a rectangularframe with vertical bars (3) stretching between the upper and lowerhorizontal edges of the frame.
 3. Combination table (1) according to oneof claims 1-2, characterised in that it is equipped with wheels in thelower corners of the side members (2).
 4. Use of the combination tableaccording to claims 1-3 as a baby changing table (1), characterised inthat there is mounted a height adjustable table top (5) and at least oneheight adjustable shelf (7) horizontally between the side members (2).5. (Original) Use of the combination table according to claims 1-3 as adesk (13), characterised in that there is mounted a height adjustabletable top (5) and one crossbeam (12) and alternatively one or moreheight adjustable shelves (7) horizontally between the side members (2).6. Use of the combination table according to claims 1-3 as a partition,characterised in that the side members (2) are mounted together in onevertical edge each, alternatively with one or more table tops (5) orshelves (7) between them.
 7. Article holders configured for use with thecombination table according to claims 1-3, characterised in that theymay be snapped onto the bars (3) on each side of the side members (2)and at any height.
 8. Article holders configured for use with thecombination table according to claims 1-3, characterised in that theyare fastened in the row of holes (9) on the side members (2) horizontaledges on any side of the side members (2) and at any height.
 9. Articleholders according to one of claims 7-8, wherein the article holdersinclude a basket (12) and/or a towel holder (11).